November 19, 2014

Believers celebrate Jesus in many ways. He is our Savior, Brother, and Friend. We can tend to emphasize his humanity, love and vulnerability. And, well we should.

On balance, he is the mighty God. We mustn’t forget this. If we do, we create an improper view, I might say, image of Jesus. We can refashion Jesus into a god who is more manageable. With manageability we lose our sense of worship and awe. We, to some degree, domesticate Him.

I don’t think we actually forget that He is the God-Man. I’m suggesting that we might unconsciously emphasize Jesus’ humanity over his deity.

As you know, the Apostle John lived and walked with Jesus for three years. He saw Jesus raise the dead; He witnessed the Transfiguration. He encountered the resurrected Jesus. Yet, how did John respond when he encountered Jesus in the book of Revelation (1:17)? “When I saw him, I fell at this feet as though dead.” John, in spite of his familiarity with Jesus, was overwhelmed when he encountered him. The veil was removed and John understood as never before who Jesus is. John, in spite of his history with Jesus, in spite of being the conduit of the Holy Spirit used to give us the gospel of John, three letters, and the book of Revelation, was stunned when he encountered Jesus.

If John was stunned by his encounter with Jesus, what will it be like for us? Indeed, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, that He is God. This awareness won’t be forced; like with John, it will be the reflex of stunned hearts and minds. It will be the only appropriate response to the glory of our precious Savior.

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

I love songs that make me think. This song does this. “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deity.” We are often impressed with people, with their skills, gifts, wealth, and power. On that Day when we stand before Jesus the people who have impressed us in the past will be on their knees beside us. Those who impress us today will be long forgotten when confronted with the glory of Jesus. Those who impress us today will be like a candle when compared to the sun.

Finally, I love this quote from Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” It is a dialogue about meeting Aslan, the Christ figure:

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

December 21, 2013

“This Gospel anticipates a world far different from C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, where it is “always winter, and never Christmas.” The promise of the Gospel is that it is “always Christmas.” To be “in Christ” is to enjoy each morning as a Christmas morning with the family of God, celebrating the gift of God around the tree of life.” (emphasis mind) — Keith Vanhoozer

December 20, 2013

December 18, 2013

I know my posts have been rather light (in number and content) this week. I could have discussed Harold Camping’s death, or repentance Ted Haggard style, or the problems with the updated NIV, or how to read the Bible in a more meaningful way. But, I’ve chosen the lower road and am satisfied with feel-good stories.